6 pre-tournament contenders who crashed out of the British Open

The top of the leaderboard at the 2018 British Open is loaded with young guns, major championship winners and fan favorites after 36 holes. Zach Johnson and Kevin Kisner lead all players at 6-under par, but Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth are all close behind.

The betting favorite to win the British Open? Earlier this week, that title went to World No. 1 Dustin Johnson – but three of the top five players in the world won’t be competing this weekend.

Dustin Johnson (12/1)

Despite posting a T2 in 2011, the British Open has been DJ’s weakest major throughout his career. Johnson made a late run at the cut line Friday with a string of four birdies in six holes on the back nine, but he finished his round with a bogey at 17 and a double at 18, and couldn’t atone for an opening day 76. Johnson finished at 6-over par, three shots over the cut line.

Justin Thomas (22/1)

A MC at Carnoustie will be particularly frustrating for Thomas, who was vying for the lead of the tournament on Thursday by going 4-under through his first 11 holes. Thomas was 8-over in his next 25 holes, including a stretch of three consecutive double-bogeys on Friday.

Jon Rahm (22/1)

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The 23-year-old posted a 69 on Thursday, but a triple-bogey and two double-bogeys on Friday doomed Rahm. A drive out-of-bounds triggered a disastrous seven on the seventh hole, and his round of 78 dropped him to 5-over for the tournament.

Sergio Garcia (28/1)

Sergio still hasn’t quite gotten over his Masters hangover, and his two rounds of 75 and 71 resulted in Garcia missing his fourth straight cut at a major, stretching back to the 2017 PGA Championship.

Hideki Matsuyama (50/1)

Matsuyama recovered brilliantly from an opening-round 74 and needed a par at the last hole to head into the weekend in a tie for 40th after playing his first 17 holes at 3-under par – but a heartbreaking triple-bogey at the 18th spoiled his tournament. He finished at 4-over par, one shot over the cut line.

Ian Poulter (66/1)

Poulter was in surprisingly good spirits after an 81 on Friday left him at 12-over par for the tournament.

Slightly disappointing week.. Heading back down south for my last weekend in the UK. @theopen is always and incredible event. Time for some family fun before Canada on Monday.

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